FISH FARMING TEST SITE EXPOSED TO HIGH WAVES AND WAVE GENERATED RIP CURRENTS

The bay of Sandsvág is located in the strait Skúvoyarfjørður in the Faroe Is-
lands. The strait is exposed to westerly ocean waves from the North Atlantic.
The bay itself, is sheltered by a short headland and a shallow area in front
of it. In 2016 an experimental aquaculture site for salmon was employed in
the bay, where waves, current, and the shape of one cage net were measured.
The objective was to find the equipment that can withstand the harsh envi-
ronment and ways to ensure fish thrive in it.
The site proved to have waves not higher than acceptable for aquaculture,
even when the ocean waves from the west reached a significant height of
18 m, but the breaking of the waves in the shallow area generated challeng-
ing rip currents. The measurements showed high correlation between wave
height and current speed. The high waves and strong rip current lifted the
sinker collar, reducing the volume in the net as much as 50 %. A series of
storms led to damage on the skin and high mortality of the fish, and for the
sake of fish welfare, the fish was slaughtered.
The object to ensure fish thrive is still a challenge, but the equipment can
withstand the harsh environment.